It's hard to believe that an animated television show about a sea sponge and his aquatic friends has captivated an entire generation, as well as their children who followed. Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants premiered in 1999 and is still going strong 25 years later, with the release of its fourth mainstream movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
The movie shows SpongeBob proving to Mr. Krabs that he's a brave sea sponge and can ride the scariest roller coaster in Bikini Bottom. To prove his bravery, SpongeBob and Patrick go on a mission to find The Flying Dutchman, Bikini Bottom's sea ghost.
The CGI film earned $22 million at the box office (as of this article's publishing) and earned 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants may not be a massive hit, but it proves that the SpongeBob franchise is not going anywhere.
SpongeBob SquarePants Has Aged Surprisingly Well After 25 Years & Counting
As a silly kids' show that focuses on a talking sea sponge and his friends in an underwater town called Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob SquarePants has aged famously after 25 years. The mixture of absurdity and relatable moments has brought generations together.
SpongeBob's nonsensical personality, silly faces, and expressive tone of voice are things that have carried the series and connect with younger audiences. However, the reason why the cartoon continues to gain traction is that adults also enjoy the combination of physical humor and satire.
Despite the bright colors, mindless songs, and hilarious banter, the series is oddly relatable. Jealousy with friendships, dead-end jobs, and staying true to oneself are just a few storylines that correlate with various age groups. The show's ability to connect a variety of ages with fun and absurdity adds to SpongeBob's
SpongeBob Has Become More Than Just A Silly TV Show
SpongeBob SquarePants may have started as a silly kids' show, but it evolved into something bigger. Now, kids can play SpongeBob games, read books, watch movies and spin-offs, and play with toys. The series has turned into a mega franchise, which has advantages and disavantages.
Theater fans could even catch SpongeBob on Broadway from 2017 to 2018. The play was such a success that it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.
SpongeBob’s relatability is universal, as the franchise reaches more than just kids. At the surface level, the show seems naive and loud because of SpongeBob’s ensemble of humor, but it’s more nuanced. There’s a sincerity that’s felt by all ages, making the merchandise, parks, and movies all worth it.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Franchise Is Only Getting Bigger
After a decade of being on air, Nickelodeon released its first spinoff, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years. The spinoff focused on SpongeBob's younger years with his friends at camp. This followed an industry push for more child-oriented cartoons, with other major IPs releasing similar series.
A second spinoff was in the works a year later. This time, the central focus was on Patrick, The Patrick Star Show. The series is a success, with its fourth season set to premiere in 2025.
SpongeBob doesn't stop with two spinoff shows, of course. There are four feature films, comic books, theme park rides, and more. Season 17 of the main series is set to release in 2026, and the art book SpongeBob SquarePants: The Art of an Undersea World is set to be released in February 2026.
SpongeBob isn't stopping at digital media, though. A new SpongeBob SquarePants theme park is coming to Fresno, Texas' Universal Kids Resort in 2026. From land to sea, SpongeBob SquarePants is virtually everywhere, and his legacy continues to grow from the '90s.
How SpongeBob SquarePants Has Remained So Popular
One of the reasons SpongeBob SquarePants has remained so popular because of its availability among the masses. Aside from the shows being on network TV and streaming channels, there are seemingly endless ways people of all ages can access and enjoy the series' characters.
It's one of the few shows that grows with the audience. The humor is senseless and humorless to children, but as the audience matures, the storylines remain entertaining because of the relatability. It doesn't hurt that the characters are animated adorably, like SpongeBob's iconic bucked teeth or Sandy Cheeks' fuzzy ears.
Visually speaking, the franchise still appeals to new generations because of its fast-paced sequences, quick punchlines, and the space the show fills online. In a world of instant gratification, SpongeBob checks off the boxes with quick, colorful scenes.
Even if someone hasn't watched SpongeBob, there are popular memes, GIFs, and trending audio on various social media channels. SpongeBob's clickbait visuals and sounds are a great way to grab new viewers if they haven't seen the series before. After 25 years, the franchise is doing something incredible that's rarely seen: gaining traction, new viewers, and remaining nostalgic.
